FCI urges members to register on the National Fertiliser Database
- Liam Cunningham
- Apr 3
- 1 min read
The association of Farm & Forestry Contractors (FCI) urges its members to register on the National Fertiliser Database (NFD) as a Professional Fertiliser End User.
If you wish to purchase fertiliser you must be registered as a Professional Fertiliser End User with the Department. You can download the application form here.
Since legislation was introduced in September 2023, every transaction along the supply chain must be recorded. This includes fertiliser dispatched from contractors to clients.
When the fertiliser spreading season ends on September 15, contractors have until October 15 to submit these details to the department.
Only registered farmers, co-ops, and professional fertiliser end users (contractors) can legally buy fertiliser and to avoid disruption to work it is advised that you apply if you plan on spreading fertiliser this coming season.
Contractors who are not registered as a professional end user may be restricted from purchasing fertiliser.
This legislation that was introduced in 2023 is part of an EU directive to track fertiliser sales and usage.
The initiative is part of a wide range of EU regulations to meet nitrate pollution and water quality targets, ensuring accurate recording of how much and where fertiliser was spread to reduce environmental risks.
Earlier this year it was reported by the Environmental Protection Agency that the levels of nitrates were at an eight year low.
The over abundance of nitrates in Irish waters can cause algae bloom or eutrophication which blocks out sunlight and reduces the level of oxygen in lakes and rivers which harms aquatic ecosystems, threatens other plants and organisms, and degrades the water quality.
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